Carolyn Hax: Cheating had context

10:39 PM,
Mar. 24, 2013

Written by

Carolyn Hax
The Washington Post

Question - I cheated on my ex. I'm extremely ashamed of this part of my past.

I understand now why I did it: to avoid facing a painful reality, and to avoid sharing my feelings with my ex because I was afraid of his reaction. I've grown immensely since then.

I am dating again now. I am afraid of sharing the details about my past with prospective partners because they'll think, "Once a cheater, always a cheater" - which, granted, is what I thought before I found myself in that boat. ...